Indexing means for electrical connectors

ABSTRACT

An indexing or keying system for electrical connectors adapted for longitudinal telescopic engagement with each other provides each connector with an indexing member having a predetermined facing configuration disposed at the connecting end thereof on one side of the centerline and a complementary indexing opening on the other side of the centerline having a facing configuration substantially identical to the facing configuration of the indexing member. By selecting unique complementary values for the facing dimensions of the indexing members and openings, the connectors may be indexed in accordance with any desired circuit parameter to prevent inadvertent joinder of dissimilar indexed connectors.

imited States Patent [451 Apr. 4, 1972 Winkler [54] INDEXING MEANS FORELECTRICAL CONNECTORS [72] Inventor: Edward D. Winkler, Reading, Mass.[73] Assignee: Anderson Power Products, Inc., Boston,

Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 21,279

52 US. Cl. ..339/49 R, 339/66 M 339/184M 51 Int. Cl .;.'.n0 13/s4,g(1g;[04 58 Field 61' Search ..T 339/4749, 64 R,

339/64 M, 65, 66 R, 66 M, 113 B, 176 R, 176 M,

184 R, 184 M, 186 R, 186M FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 56,178 4/1944Netherlands ..339/49 R Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion AssistantExaminerTerrell P. Lewis AttorneyChittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels &Gauthier [5 7] ABSTRACT An indexing or keying system for electricalconnectors adapted for longitudinal telescopic engagement with eachother provides each connector with an indexing member having apredetermined facing configuration disposed at the connecting endthereof on one side of the centerline and a complementary indexingopening on the other side of the centerline having a facingconfiguration substantially identical to the facing configuration of theindexing member. By selecting unique complementary values for the facingdimensions of the indexing members and openings, the connectors may beindexed in accordance with any desired circuit parameter to preventinadvertent joinder of dissimilar indexed connectors.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 4 1372 FIG. I

INVENTOR EDWARD D. WINKLER ATTORNEYS W B, m m m FIG. 3

INDEXING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS This invention generallyrelates to electrical connectors and is more particularly concerned withan indexing or keying system for same.

Electrical connectors of uniform overall size are frequently employed toconnect cables in circuits of differing voltage and current ratings. Itis, of course, desirable to provide uniform sized connectors for variousapplications from the standpoint of low cost production employingstandard molds. However, a shortcoming of this uniformity of connectorsize has become apparent in that frequently connectors carrying cableswith different voltage and/or currents may inadvertently be engaged,which joinder may result in damage to the appliances interconnected dueto the current and/or voltage overloads and the like.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel indexing or keyingmeans which may be employed with otherwise uniform sized connectors topositively prevent inadvertent joinder of connectors of differingcircuit parameter ratings.

This and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent as the detailed description of the preferred embodimentthereof proceeds with continued reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of identical two pole connectorsembodying the positive indexing means in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a connecting end elevation of one ofthe connector housingsshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevation of two connector housings,partially broken away along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, to show theinterrelationship of the preferred indexing means of the two connectorhousings; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modifiedindexing means configuration.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a pair of identical two pole electricalcable connectors indicated generally at and 12 comprise exactcounterparts adapted for longitudinal telescopic engagement of theirconnecting ends indicated at 14 and 14', respectively, to form anelectrical connection between cable terminals 16 secured to cables l8,18 carried therein. The connectors 10 and 12 are generally of the typedisclosed in my US. Pat. Nos. 3,091,736 and 2,838,739, and will beherein described only with the particularity necessary to understand thepresent invention.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the connecting end 14 of the connector housing10 is formed to define a lower pocket portion including two close-endedcable terminal receiving pockets 20 and 22 and an upper socket portionincluding open ended, inverted U-shaped sockets 24 and 26 adapted tosnugly receive by insertion the pockets 20 and 22 of the identicalinverted connector 12 on the upper half thereof. The socket and pocketportions are disposed on either side of a transverse centerlinedesignated as A central partition wall 28 extends from the periphery ofthe housing 10 to define and separate the sockets 24 and 26, and acomplementary slot 30 is formed between the pockets 20 and 22 so as toslideably receive the central wall 28' of the second connector 12 whenthe two are longitudinally engaged.

The inner end of the slot 30 is defined by the outer wall 32 of a solidindexing member or bridge 34 disposed between the two pockets 20 and 22and the inner wall 36 of which is coextensive with centerline of thehousing 10. It should thus become apparent from viewing FIG. 3 that thehousing 10 will longitudinally engage with the housing 12 only ifindexing openings 38, 38' between inner ends 40, 40 of the partitionwalls and the inner walls 36, 36 of the indexing members 34, 34 have thesame dimensions designated at A," A which are substantially identical tothe thickness facing dimensions perpendicular to the centerlinedesignated as B, B' of the indexing members 34, 34 so that the openings38, 38' will slideably receive the sides of the other indexing members34', 34 parallel to the centerline when the two connectors arelongitudinally engaged.

In light of the description of indexing means 34, 38 which allow mating,it should be understood that the dimensions A" and B" can becomplementarily varied for connectors having substantially the sameoverall size but which are adapted for use with cables of differentvoltage ratings. For example, if at any particular point it is necessaryto connect cables carrying 24 volts and it is also necessary to connectcables in a 48 volt circuit, it is highly desirable to provide apositive means for insuring that 24 volt cables are not connected to 48volt circuits and vice versa. This result will obtain if the connectorhousings l0 and 12 are indexed or keyed by providing complementaryindexing means 34 and 38 having predetermined unique dimensions A" and Bof different magnitude for each voltage rating desired. Hence, thedimensions A and B for all connector housings 10 designed for use with24 volt circuits should have the same predetermined unique value, whilehousings 10 to be used for different voltage circuits, say 48 volts,should have a different predetermined unique magnitude for theirdimensions A and 8" for each voltage or other parameter rating desiredto provide a "go, no-go positive indexing arrangement for electricalconnectors. It is also preferred to vary the colors of the varioushousings 10 so that two connectors having the same indexing dimensionsA" and B may be easily identified upon visual inspection.

The positive indexing feature of the preferred embodiment may be bestappreciated with reference to FIG. 3. If the dimensions A and B of theconnector housing 12 did not match dimensions A and B of housing 10,longitudinal engagement of the housings along the construction lineswould be prevented because the faces of the partition walls 28, 28 andof the indexing members 34, 34 would be opposed to block engagement.

The rectangular configuration of the indexing bridge 34 is preferredbecause of its simple form and because it is centrally disposed with aportion of its facing periphery touching the centerline Q. 7 The latterfeature aids longitudinal engagement of similarly indexed connectors byproviding a centrally disposed guide to promote facile joinder with aminimum of flexing between the connectors.

It should be understood, however, that other physical parameters andcomplementary facing configurations may be employed to provide anindexing capability. Two examples of other physical parameters which maybe complementarily varied to index the connector housings are shown inFIG. 2 and a further centrally disposed indexing configuration is shownin FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 2, the height of the partition wall 28 isdesignated C and the depth of its complementary slot 30 is designatedD." It should be apparent that the connectors 10 and 12 could be keyedor indexed by assigning predetermined unique values to the dimensions C"and D for each indexing increment desired so that the inner end 40 ofthe partition wall 28 is positioned at substantially the same distancefrom the centerline [[as the inner end 32 of the slot 30 is on the otherside of the centerline. Thus the partition wall 28 defines an indexingmember housing a predetermined facing configuration and the slot 30defines a complementary indexing opening on the other side of thecenterline. If this indexing system is used, it is of course notnecessary to have the inner wall bridge 30 coextensive with thecenterline.

Similarly, an indexing system may also be provided by complementarilyvarying the width 13" of partition wall 28 and the width of F of theslot 30 so that the housing 10 may be engaged only with another invertedhousing having substantially identical keyed width dimensions for itswall 28 and slot 30. When this indexing system is employed, theprovision of a member 34 closing the inner end of the slot 30 is notnecessary.

A modified configuration for the indexing bridge 34 and opening 38 isshown in FIG. 4 wherein the outer wall 32 of the indexing member 34 hasan indented semicircular configuration while the inner end 40 of thepartition wall 28 has complementary crowned semicircular configuration.Indexing may be accomplished with this configuration by assigning uniquecomplementary values to the dimensions of the facing configurations ofthe indexing opening 38 (defined by the crowned inner wall 42 and theinner bridge wall 36) and the indexing member 34 for each indexingincrement desired.

In light of the various indexing means configurations herein described,it should be apparent that many other configurations may be employedwhich fall within the scope of my invention. It is, therefore, myintention to cover all modifications and equivalents of my inventionwhich do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by theappended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A keyed plural-poled connector having a housing of the type providedat the connecting end thereof with a pocket portion disposed on one sideof a transverse centerline and including at least two terminal receivingpockets and a socket portion disposed on the other side of thetransverse centerline and including at least two sockets open to saidtransverse centerline and adapted to receive by insertion the terminalreceiving pockets of an inverted second connector in longitudinaltelescopic engagement with the pocket portions of said connectors beingin aligned, opposed relation so that terminals positioned therein willbe in electrical contact with each other, said housing further having apositive indexing means comprising a longitudinally disposed indexingmember positioned between said pocket portions at said connecting endand having a predetermined unique facing configuration, and means atsaid connecting end defining a complementary indexing opening ofsubstantially the same facing configuration as said indexing member insaid socket portion to slideably receive by longitudinal insertion anindexing member of said predetermined unique configuration, whereby saidconnector may be longitudinally engaged only with an inverted secondconnector having a substantially identical indexing member and indexingopening.

2. The connector housing of claim 1 wherein said means defining acomplementary indexing opening comprises a longitudinally extendingcentral partition wall positioned between said socket portions and awayfrom said centerline with the perpendicular distance from saidcenterline to said partition wall constituting the indexing opening.

3 The connector housing of claim 2 wherein said indexing means has arectangular facing configuration with one side of said indexing memberbeing co-extensive with said centerline, said indexing member furtherhaving a predetermined thickness dimension perpendicular to thecenterline substantially equal to the perpendicular distance betweensaid centerline and said central partition wall.

4. The connector housing of claim 2 wherein a portion of the facingperiphery of said indexing member touches said centerline with the restof said periphery positioned entirely on one side of said centerline,said indexing opening being complementarily disposed on the other sideof said centerline.

5. The connector housing of claim 5 wherein a portion of said indexingmember facing periphery remote from said centerline has a semicircularconfiguration.

6. A keyed plural-poled connector having a housing of the type providedat the connecting end thereof with a pocket portion disposed on one sideof a transverse centerline and including at least two terminal receivingpockets and a socket portion disposed on the other side of thetransverse centerline and including at least two sockets open to saidtransverse centerline and adapted to receive by insertion the terminalreceiving pockets of an inverted second connector in longitudinaltelescopic engagement, with the pocket portions of said connectors beingin aligned, opposed relation so that terminals positioned therein willbe in electrical contact with each other, said housing further having apositive indexing means comprising a longitudinally disposed indexingmember positioned between said socket portions and away from saidcenterline at said connecting end with said indexing member having apredetermined uni ue facing configuration, and bridgin means betweensaid pocket portions at said connecting end defining a complementaryindexing opening of substantially the same facing configuration as theindexing member in said socket portion to slideably receive bylongitudinal insertion an indexing member of said predetermined uniqueconfiguration, whereby said connector may be longitudinally engaged withonly an inverted second connector having a substantially identicalindexing member and indexing opening.

7. The connector housing of claim 6 wherein the length of said indexingmember measured perpendicularly to said centerline is substantiallyequal to the length of said complemen tary indexing opening measuredperpendicularly to said centerline.

1. A keyed plural-poled connector having a housing of the type providedat the connecting end thereof with a pocket portion disposed on one sideof a transverse centerline and including at least two terminal receivingpockets and a socket portion disposed on the other side of thetransverse centerline and including at least two sockets open to saidtransverse centerline and adapted to receive by insertion the terminalreceiving pockets of an inverted second connector in longitudinaltelescopic engagement with the pocket portions of said connectors beingin aligned, opposed relation so that terminals positioned therein willbe in electrical contact with each other, said housing further having apositive indexing means comprising a longitudinally disposed indexingmember positioned between said pocket portions at said connecting endand having a predetermined unique facing configuration, and means atsaid connecting end defining a complementary indexing opening ofsubstantially the same facing configuration as said indexing member insaid socket portion to slideably receive by longitudinal insertion anindexing member of said predetermined unique configuration, whereby saidconnector may be longitudinally engaged only with an inverted secondconnector having a substantially identical indexing member and indexingopening.
 2. The connector housing of claim 1 wherein said means defininga complementary indexing opening comprises a longitudinally extendingcentral partition wall positioned between said socket portions and awayfrom said centerline with the perpendicular distance from saidcenterline to said partition wall constituting the indexing opening. 3.The connector housing of claim 2 wherein said indexing means has arectangular facing configuration with one side of said indexing memberbeing co-extensive with said centerline, said indexing member furtherhaving a predetermined thickness dimension perpendicular to thecenterline substantially equal to the perpendicular distance betweensaid centerline and said central partition wall.
 4. The connectorhousing of claim 2 wherein a portion of the facing periphery of saidindexing member touches said centerline with the rest of said peripherypositioned entirely on one side of said centerline, said indexingopening being complementarily disposed on the other side of saidcenterline.
 5. The connector housing of claim 5 wherein a portion ofsaid indexing member facing periphery remote from said centerline has asemicircular configuration.
 6. A keyed plural-poled connector having ahousing of the type provided at the connecting end thereof with a pocketportion disposed on one side of a transverse centerline and including atleast two terminal receiving pockets and a socket portion disposed onthe other side of the transverse centerline and including at least twosockets open to said transverse centerline and adapted to receive byinsertion the terminal receiving pockets of an inverted second connectorin longitudinal telescopic engagement, with the pocket portions of saidconnectors being in aligned, opposed relation so that terminalspositioned therein will be in electrical contact with each other, saidhousing further having a positive indexing means comprising alongitudinally disposed indexing member positioned between said socketportions and away from said centerline at said connecting end with saidindexing member having a predetermined unique facing configuration, andbridging means between said pocket portions at said connecting enddefining a complementary indexing opening of substantially the samefacing configuration as the indexing member in said socket portion toslideably receive by longitudinal insertion an indexing member of saidpredetermined unique configuration, whereby said connector may belongitudinally engaged with only an inverted second connector having asubstantially identical indexing member and indexing opening.
 7. Theconnector housing of claim 6 wherein the length of said indexing membermeasured perpendicularly to said centerline is substantially equal tothe length of said complementary indexing opening measuredperpendicularly to said centerline.